Valencia Open 500 2011: Preview Day 2 – Part Two
Enthralling singles action continues at the 2011 Valencia Open 500 on Tuesday, 1st November with four local stars taking to the courts in four singles matches alongside two doubles ones.
Kicking off the evening session is the former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero as he takes on Russian Igor Kunitsyn. The two have never contested on hard courts before, though, there record on clay courts stands at one match
win each. With only five spots between them and almost similar runs in the last ten matches, the two stand at equal footing. However, given the local crowd support and the form Ferrero exhibits even at the age of 30 suggest that the Spaniard will easily move
past the Russian into the second round.
While Ferrero contests on the Agora his compatriot, Marcel Granollers plays rising Ukrainian star, Alexandr Dolgopolov on Pista 1. Standing on a level head-to-head neither of the two players holds a statistical edge over the other.
Despite the local crowd support, Granollers is primarily a doubles specialist and is expected to crash and burn in front of the Ukrainian world number sixteen.
Following Ferrero on the Agora is yet another Spaniard, Albert Montanes. Montanes opens his Valencia bid against Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Playing all of his last ten matches on the hard surface along with a title win at the 2011 If Stockholm Open defeating Jarkko Nieminen, Monfils is perhaps most attuned to the surface than his local opponent. Monfils recent superior
run is matched by Montanes’ 2-0 lead in the head-to-head against the Frenchman.
Enjoying the psychological c*m statistical advantage mixed with the local crowd support suggests Montanes will win against the Frenchman. However, a former top ten player, Monfils is not to be under estimated and in top form can
give any player a run for their money.
Wrapping up the singles action for the day is the world number eleven, Nicolas Almagro who takes on Argentine Juan Monaco in the pair’s fifth meeting on court. Enjoying a 4-1 lead in the head-to-head with a four match winning streak
along with the local crowd support, Almagro is the clear cut winner of the matchup. The Spaniard hoping to make it to his sixth final here will easily climb up the first rung of the ladder defeating Monaco in straight sets.
The doubles action in the day includes Kevin Anderson and John Isner taking on the doubles specialists Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau. Also taking to the courts are the Brazilians Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares as they take on
the first time Spaniard duo of Roberto Bautista-Agut and Albert Ramos.
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